Hefty fines and suspensions after minor final fracas

Four suspensions and fines totalling €5,000 have been dished out by Bord na nÓg Iomáint an Chláir arising from the investigation into incidents in the Minor A Hurling Championship final, in which Kilmaley defeated Clarecastle.

 

Both clubs were notified of the decisions on Monday. They, and those for whom suspensions are proposed, have until this Thursday to request a hearing, otherwise the penalties will be affirmed.

Clarecastle manager Tom Howard and Kilmaley coach Niall Romer have each been handed two-month bans. On the day, both were sent from the enclosure by referee Jim Hickey.

The Kilmaley man was recently handed a 24-week ban arising from an incident in an earlier game in the championship. It’s understood that the eight-week ban announced this week will run concurrent with the six month ban.

Back in October, Howard was named as the new Kerry senior hurling manager. He will have served his eight-week ban, if he decides not to appeal, before their league campaign gets underway.

Clarecastle’s Anthony Daly and Stephen Sheedy have both been handed one-month bans. Dublin manager Daly will have served his term of suspension before the Dubs begin their challenge for Walsh Cup honours in January.

All the suspensions date from this week.

Clarecastle have been hit with a €3,000 fine while Kilmaley have been ordered to pay €2,000. Earlier in the season Clarecastle were fined €1,500 arising from the referee’s report on a Junior C Championship clash with Feakle. That was subsequently reduced to €1,000 on appeal.

“Mentors and club officials from both clubs were interviewed by the investigating committee over the past six weeks. Photographs were analysed and officials and stewards were also interviewed,” Bord na nÓg vice-chairman Joe Pender confirmed this week.
He went on to thank the three-man investigating committee “for their work in carrying out this investigation”.

At the time of going to press, Clarecastle were arranging a club executive meeting “to deal with the report”.
In a statement Kilmaley said “We are waiting to discuss the sanctions at our weekly club executive meeting but we are likely to appeal as we are extremely disappointed with the severity of both the suspension handed out to club mentor Niall Romer and the fine imposed on our club”.

There is speculation that Clarecastle will appeal the decision to impose a €3,000 fine on their club.